The Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, has stated that every time a woman is murdered, we are diminished as a society. He was speaking at a memorial service in Ennis, Co Clare, to commemorate the 140 women murdered in Ireland since December 1995.
At the Friary Church before a congregation of 200, Dr Walsh said: "Each person who commits an act of murder diminishes us as a society and each act of violence diminishes all of us."
Recalling the life sentencing on Monday of Martin Kinneavy for the murder of Mary Hannon in 2003, Dr Walsh, who shared the altar with Church of Ireland minister the Rev Patricia Hanna and friar Brother Niall, said: "Driving on the way down here could I remember the names of the two people involved?
"I remember that her name was Hannon, Mary Hannon. I think that it is so easy that we get so used to hearing about acts of violence that it just almost goes in one ear and out the other.
"Somehow we forget that someone like Mary Hannon, her life is just as important and deserves the same respect and to be treated with the dignity as each one of us expects to be treated."
He added: "We remember the 140 women who were murdered in Ireland since December 1995 and each one of them. Their lives are worthy of respect as yours and mine. It is not just that 140, but it is a whole community of people.
"Each one of them has a daughter, a sister, a son, brother, partner and those 140 deaths brought an awful lot of pain and suffering to extended families and friends and so many others."
At the ceremony, the names of the 140 women who suffered a violent death since December 1995 were called out, including the latest victim, Sylvia Roche Kelly, of Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, whose body was found in a Limerick hotel room at the weekend.
Eileen Murphy of Clare Haven, which tackles violence against women, knew Ms Roche Kelly and said everyone was thinking of her. Families of a number of Clare women, including Lorraine O'Connor, Ann Walsh and Geraldine Kissane who suffered violent deaths, also attended the service. Other Clare women to suffer violent deaths over the past 12 years include Marguerite O'Dwyer, Emer O'Loughlin, Angela Keane Collins and Patricia Murphy.
Ms Murphy said calls to the Clare Haven service had increased by 40 per cent as a result of the increased awareness brought about by "16 Days of Action Opposing Violence Against Women". Individual candles for each of the 140 women were lit and members of the congregation took a candle with them at the end of the service.
Describing domestic violence as an "extremely serious" issue, Dr Walsh said: "We have to say that it is wrong, it is sinful and it is unchristian to commit any act of violence against another."
Acknowledging that there was a stigma attached to domestic violence, Dr Walsh said: "Somehow, we all tend to move away from it. It couldn't possibly happen to us.
"It is not just confined to any social class . . . domestic violence can occur right across any class of society and domestic violence.
"We often associate it with physical violence, but there is verbal violence, emotional violence. It can take several forms, any form of violence that puts down another human being.
"Each one of us is entitled to respect and be treated with dignity, each one of us is sacred and special."
